POLICE believe they have smashed an international arms gang after early-morning house raids across Rochdale.

A year-long probe into the illegal importation of guns ended when armed police smashed their way into four addresses in Norden, Bamford, Newhey and Ashworth on Thursday morning

It is believed weapons and ammunition have been brought into the country from Germany.

A 51-year-old Rochdale man was arrested as the houses in Edenfield Road, Huddersfield Road, Newhey, Norden Road and Ashworth Road were searched after the raids.

He was still being questioned by police on suspicion of conspiracy to supply firearms as the Observer went to press. A 46-year-old man from Sowerby Bridge was also arrested. Both have since been bailed until May.

The swoops were part of a campaign, codenamed Operation Excalibur, to tackle gun crime and were carried out by serious and organised crime officers from the Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire forces.

Superintendent Karin Mulligan, based at Rochdale, said: "The operation is to ensure the safety of the local community. Greater Manchester Police's firearms licensing department rigorously enforces adequate licensing and safe storage of firearms.

"The force is working to remove guns from the community in a safe manner and is dedicated to tackling illegally-used firearms and the effect they have on innocent people's lives.

"Operation Excalibur is GMP's response to gun-related crime and will actively prevent offenders from going about their day-to-day business."

She urged any residents with concerns to contact Rochdale police.

News of the raids came as a shock to one resident living on the normally quiet patch in Edenfield Road, near Moorgate Avenue.

The woman told the Observer: "I didn't know anything about it until I started walking to the garage in the morning.

"There were lots of police cars outside and lots of unmarked vehicles on the other side of the road, including a big caravan, which I thought was odd.

"You don't expect this type of thing to happen in Norden. It was a bit of a shock when I found out."